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Hermosillo
Joined: 17 Jun 2014
Posts: 176
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
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 Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:51 pm Post subject: Rate these teaching cities........ |
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| Greeting from Chiang Mai, Thailand. I'm here on a Long Stay Visa (just turned 50), and I have a BBA and a lot of experience with Math Test Prep. I've been communicating with a US based agency, that has 26 schools in China. Here are the places I've narrowed my search to, as they are relatively easy to get to, from Chiang Mai: Kunming, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Changsha. Kunming really got my attention, because it is a fairly cheap 90 minute plane ride from CNX. I don't mind the heat, hate the cold, and if I don't need a/c or heat, even better. Also would be looking for a place, that has a good mix of cost of living and salary. Your comments would be appreciated! |
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Alien abductee
Joined: 08 Jun 2014
Posts: 527
Location: Kuala Lumpur
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 4:30 pm Post subject: Rate these cities |
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| Kunming has a nice climate, Chengdu has some of the best food I've ever eaten, both cities are in very scenic provinces. Outside of rent, which is the biggest monthly expense (unless provided for by the company), the cost of living for most cities can be reasonable depending on your lifestyle and spending habits (do you frequent expensive nightclubs, feel the need to keep up with people who earn four times your salary?). I don't think you'll be disappointed if you chose one of these two cities. |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: Rate these cities |
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| Alien abductee wrote: |
| Kunming has a nice climate, Chengdu has some of the best food I've ever eaten, both cities are in very scenic provinces. Outside of rent, which is the biggest monthly expense (unless provided for by the company), the cost of living for most cities can be reasonable depending on your lifestyle and spending habits (do you frequent expensive nightclubs, feel the need to keep up with people who earn four times your salary?). I don't think you'll be disappointed if you chose one of these two cities. |
Some good advice above. I have not been to Changsa but don't think I have been missing much. Kunming is a bit boring but a very livable city and great climate for China. A lot of foreigners stick around Chengdu forever which says something. I found Wuhan to be the ugliest drab most spirit draining city in China. You will mind the heat there too even if you say you don't. |
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MozartFloyd
Joined: 12 Jul 2013
Posts: 66
Location: Guangdong, China
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 4:51 am Post subject: |
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| I lived in Changsha. Just another big city in China with a lot of noise, construction, and overcast skies. Nothing of note living there; other than it's hot as hell in the summer. |
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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 7:09 am Post subject: |
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| MozartFloyd wrote: |
| I lived in Changsha. Just another big city in China with a lot of noise, construction, and overcast skies. Nothing of note living there; other than it's hot as hell in the summer. |
You don't happen to know a restaurant called 'The Peacock', do you? |
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MozartFloyd
Joined: 12 Jul 2013
Posts: 66
Location: Guangdong, China
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 2:22 am Post subject: |
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| Don't know it. |
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Hermosillo
Joined: 17 Jun 2014
Posts: 176
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| I have a job lead in Zengzhou. Not what I had in mind, but if the pay is good........Any clues on this city? |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:49 am Post subject: |
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| Hermosillo wrote: |
| I have a job lead in Zengzhou. Not what I had in mind, but if the pay is good........Any clues on this city? |
Zhengzhou? In Henan province?
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
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Hermosillo
Joined: 17 Jun 2014
Posts: 176
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 10:03 am Post subject: |
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| Yes, I left out the "h." |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:10 am Post subject: |
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| Hermosillo wrote: |
| I have a job lead in Zengzhou. Not what I had in mind, but if the pay is good........Any clues on this city? |
Not a bad city. Nothing remarkable but you could certainly do worse. Not a bad cost of living and some things to see and do in the city and nearby. Decent transportation links for the region.
I may be completely wrong but usually the prep classes are in high schools outside of the city center. If so prepare for a drab modern and rather boring environment. But if you are looking to save, it becomes much easier without Western restaurants and other money spending detractions so close. |
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Hermosillo
Joined: 17 Jun 2014
Posts: 176
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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It's at a PGA Middle School. Pro Golfer's Association? I do fine without expensive Western gimmicks. Good street food and cold beer would be fine.
What would be a good salary for someone with a BBA, who would be working in middle school math(s)? I'm experienced, but lack the teaching degree.
Thanks! |
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thechangling
Joined: 11 Apr 2013
Posts: 276
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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| The pollution can be hellish in Zhengzhou though! Look at the AQI index for Zhengzhou: http://aqicn.org/city/zhengzhou/ |
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Listerine
Joined: 15 Jun 2014
Posts: 340
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Hermosillo wrote: |
| Good street food and cold beer would be fine. |
After Thailand you may find the street food pretty rank, and the street vendors and small shops have an annoying habit of turning off their fridges in summer, so most of the beers are at best warm and at worst coffee temperature with bottles covered in congealed chicken blood, and mouse crap. Just a heads up. |
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Hermosillo
Joined: 17 Jun 2014
Posts: 176
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Listerine wrote: |
| Hermosillo wrote: |
| Good street food and cold beer would be fine. |
After Thailand you may find the street food pretty rank, and the street vendors and small shops have an annoying habit of turning off their fridges in summer, so most of the beers are at best warm and at worst coffee temperature with bottles covered in congealed chicken blood, and mouse crap. Just a heads up. |
Sounds more like the Cambodian Cookbook. The Thais can be scary with the frig. , aslo. One advantage of street food; they buy fresh every day, and use ice. The US brought refrigeration to Thailand in 1936. The British brought ice in beer to Pattaya in 1986....both have caught on about the same.
I did enjoy nice, cold 1 Dollar cans of Chinese beer last time I flew through PEK. That would definitely go on my list of airport super-deals. |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Hermosillo wrote: |
It's at a PGA Middle School. Pro Golfer's Association? I do fine without expensive Western gimmicks. Good street food and cold beer would be fine.
What would be a good salary for someone with a BBA, who would be working in middle school math(s)? I'm experienced, but lack the teaching degree.
Thanks! |
I worked such programs but at a high school level. Been a couple years since I have had my feet on the ground in China but the prep programs have exploded and it is very hard to find qualified native speaking subject teachers. The parents are affluent and paying good money for these programs so they demand the "look", making it hard for the programs to hire others as less expensive replacements.
The standard deal is a single apartment on campus and lots of paid vacation, paid airfare etc. I taught mostly Business and Economics and the salary has skyrocketed with those since I left. Subjects like Math, Physics and Chemistry pay even better. You should be looking in the 15-20 per month range I would think where you are going. You are high demand even without the teaching certificate. Don't let them think they are doing you the favor of working there and pay and act accordingly. The last school I was at went through the Math/Physics teachers monthly as they would leave over any little thing as they had so many other standing offers.
I really miss Chinese street food now that I am here in the Philippines. 90% of the food here is the pits. Enjoy! |
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